A. Space being used to support ruling party legitimacy

A2: Cooperation Turn

In early May when the US government was scrambling to pass a budget, a provision was slipped into the NASA appropriations bill that while counter to Obama Administration policy of expanded space cooperation, was not as important as getting a continuing resolution passed and so allowed to slide through. Section 1340 of NASA’s budget prohibited NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) from spending funds to “develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company.” It also prohibited the hosting of “official Chinese visitors” at any NASA facility. Clearly, a comprehensive ban on US-China space cooperation was intended. Just as clearly, ban supporters are under the impression that Chinese space officials are anxiously banging on the proverbial US door, waiting and hoping for the opportunity to work with the United States – which just isn’t the case.

But as China ramps up its space initiatives, the diplomatic talk of cooperation has so far found little traction. The Chinese leadership has shown scant interest in opening up the most sensitive details of its program, much of which is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).  At the same time, Chinese scientists and space officials say that Washington’s wariness of China’s intentions in space, as well as U.S. bans on some high-technology exports, makes cooperation problematic.

For now, the U.S.-China relationship in space appears to mirror the one on Earth – a still-dominant but fading superpower facing a new and ambitious rival, with suspicion on both sides.  “What you have are two major powers, both of whom use space for military, civilian and commercial purposes,” said Dean Cheng, a researcher with the Washington-based Heritage Foundation and an expert on the Chinese military and space program.
China and US are aggressive towards each other in the status quo

Tkacik 10 (c John J., a retired Foreign Service officer, was chiefof China analysis in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research during the Clinton administration, “Chin space program shoots for moon,” The Washington Times, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jan/08/china-eyes-high-ground/?page=1)

This combination of financial wealth, educational excellence, advanced technology and a penchant for plundering intellectual property has enabled China’s space program to develop swiftly. In 2003, China’s gained entry into the exclusive manned-space club previously restricted to the United States and Russia. By 2008, Chinese astronauts were taking space walks and buzzing tiny “BX-1” nano-satellites around their space capsules, a technology that puts them on the cutting edge of “space situational awareness” that America’s military space assets still lack.

Beijing’s political and military leaders alike foresee “competition” in space with the United States. They certainly plan to seize the high ground of low-Earth orbit and then will likely move to the even higher ground of moon landings perhaps before this decade is out. Judging from the past behavior of China’s state-owned aerospace firms especially in their unseemly eagerness to proliferate ballistic missile technology to rogue states, it is unlikely that Mr. Obama can count on much “cooperation” with China in space - except on China’s terms.